What foods help dogs with itchy skin

Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Possible Causes & Treatment

Are you thinking about your dogs frequent scratching, licking, and rolling around on the rug? You may be feeling itchy yourself, just from watching all this activity!

There are many reasons your dog may be itchy. Many veterinarians believe its best to find the cause of the itch sooner rather than later. While occasional scratching can be normal for dogs, frequent scratching could indicate a medical condition that may get worse over time.

According to a 2023 Nationwide Survey on pet insurance data, for the eleventh year in a row allergic dermatitis (skin allergies) was the top reason dogs were brought into the vet. This condition can make your dog itchy and cause them to show signs like frequent scratching, recurrent ear infections, and skin changes. Continue on to learn more about allergic dermatitis and why August is such a special month.

Possible Cause of Your Dogs Itchy Skin

So, whats behind your dogs itchy skin? It may be caused by a medical condition called skin allergies. This means your dogs body overreacts to an allergen in the environment or to food, which makes them feel itchy. There are several potential culprits:

• Flea allergy: Flea bites can create extremely itchy areas on your dog. They can be found anywhere on the body, but are most common at the hind legs, tail base, and rear end. Just because you dont see any fleas on your dog does not mean they arent there keep in mind that a bite from a single flea can make your dog very itchy.
• Food allergy: Your dogs itching might be caused by a food allergy. Some dogs are allergic to common dog food ingredients such as beef, chicken, and dairy products.1 Food allergies in dogs can lead to changes to the skin around their paws, face, armpits, and belly.
• Environmental allergy: Your dog may be allergic to environmental triggers like pollen, mold spores, or dust mites. Environmental allergens can cause allergic itch during certain seasons, or even year-round. Dogs with environmental allergies will often have changes to the skin around their face, belly, and paws.
• Contact allergy: Your dog may be allergic to substances it encounters daily. These can include things like household cleaners, shampoos, insecticides, and plants. Dogs with contact allergies will often be itchy in the area that touched the contact allergen.

Skin allergies can make your dog uncomfortable. They can also lead to secondary health problems if there is a delay in treatment. When a dog licks or scratches an area excessively, it can damage the skin and lead to skin infections and wounds. These can cause changes like hair loss, body odor, and inflammation. Severe skin infections and wounds may even be painful for your dog.

How to Relieve Your Dogs Itchy Skin

When your dog experiences these skin changes because of skin allergies, it can be tempting to try an over-the-counter treatment or home remedy. However, using an OTC or at-home solution may not relieve your dogs itch. The following treatment options are commonly available and may offer some itch relief but may not be the best option for your dog.

• Over-the-counter shampoos and oils. Treatments like coconut oil and itch-relief shampoos only provide temporary relief. Your dogs itch may come back because the root cause has not been addressed.
• Antihistamines. While studies have shown that antihistamines may relieve allergies in humans well, antihistamines are less helpful in relieving itch in dogs with environmental allergies. In fact, it has been shown that antihistamines likely offer little to no benefit in treating environmental allergies in many dogs.
• Prescription steroids. Steroids prescribed by a vet can be effective in reducing itchiness in your dog, but they may cause side effects5 in your furry friend. Dogs on prescription steroids often experience increased urination, thirst, and weight gain. They can also experience behavior shifts such as increased aggression.

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month. If your dog is scratching frequently in August or any time of year, schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss the most effective ways to relieve your dogs itch. If your dog has skin allergies, then a prescription treatment from your vet may be needed to get your favorite sidekick feeling better. So, call your vet today!

American poet Ogden Nash said, Happiness is having a scratch for every itch. For your dog, happiness is relieving the source of every itch.

10 Best Dog Food for Itchy Skin Brands Review (Updated 2024)

There are several reasons why your dog is suffering from itchy skin. Anything from environmental allergens to the wrong dog food brand can cause dogs to scratch incessantly. What's the best dog food for itchy skin?

Premium dog food for your dog's itchy skin health recipes may be suitable, but it could also require a trip to the veterinarian.

This article will cover the dietary guidelines in dog health for dogs with itchy skin and review the best dog food for your pup's skin problemwhich includes the pros and cons of each product.

Dietary Guidelines and Food for Dogs With Itchy Skin

The root cause of the itchy skin will dictate the proper treatment.

It's essential to seek the advice of your veterinarian because there may be an issue that is causing your dog's skin trouble.

A flea infestation, a tick bite, food allergies, seasonal allergies, or conditions like mange could be the underlying reason why your dog is scratching.

In any of these cases, switching his food isn't going to help.

Your veterinarian may recommend a topical or oral treatment.

They could also prescribe amedicated shampoo that could support skin health for sensitive dogs.

However, your dog's dry skin problem could also be due to an improper diet.

The best dog foods for itchy skin help moisturize and nourish the skin if this is the case.

It's no secret that nutrition is directly related to health.

Research has proventhat adjusting your dog's diet with specific nutrients in mind can positively affect his skin and coat health.

Even if the itching isn't due to food sensitivities, a diet change could fix the problem.

Dog food recipes specifically focus on skin disorders, but they aren't all meant for dogs with itchy skin.

Sadly, there are a lot ofbad dog food brandsout there.

They are full of chemical preservatives, unnecessary fillers, artificial colors and flavorings, and low-quality by-products.

Inferior quality ingredients can irritate your dog's skin or even cause skin allergies.

The best dog food for sensitive and itchy skin will only contain high-quality ingredients.

These products can also be considered limited-ingredient dog foods, which means fewer things in the diet trigger your dog's sensitive skin and skin allergies.

You should be looking for certain nutrients in dog food if your Fido has itchy skin.

They must include the following essential nutrients for a strong immune system:

A high-quality protein source

Protein will make up a large part of the dog food recipe, and some sources (like beef, pork, turkey, and lamb)can cause skin irritation in dogs. Less common protein sources like venison are a better option. Other high-quality protein sources include eggs, fish, and poultry.

Essential fatty acids

The most important to look for are omega-3s, EPA, and DHA. Fish like salmon, fish oil, and chicken fat are common and natural sources of these essential fatty acids.

Vitamin A

It is essential for the health of skin cells and hair follicles. Familiar sources of Vitamin A include carrots, spinach, liver, fish oil, eggs, and sweet potatoes.

Biotin

This vitamin promotes healthy tissue growth. Meat, milk, and eggs are high in biotin.

Vitamin E

It is a natural antioxidant that aids in the protection of skin cells against free radicals. Vitamin E is in seeds, liver, and leafy green veggies.

Zinc

It can help to prevent inflamed, itchy skin. It can even aid in the prevention of bacterial and fungal skin infections. Natural sources of Zinc include poultry, beef, and yogurt. Many vegetables are also rich in Zinc.

Finally, remember that a transitional period is significant before switching to the best dog food for itchy skin.

It would be best if you made this transition as smooth as possible to prevent digestive upset.

The transition to a new diet should be very gradual taking 7-10 days.

For the first 2-3 days, mix 3/4 of the old diet with 1/4 of the new food. If this goes well, mix 1/2 old food with 1/2 fresh food for the next 2-3 days.

As long as you don't notice any vomiting, diarrhea, or other GI symptoms, you can continue to mix 3/4 new food with 1/4 old food for 2-3 more days.

If everything still seems fine, you can feed Fido 100% new food from here on out.

The 10 Best Dog Food for Your Dogs Itchy Skin

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Potato

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Potato is a grain-free pet food that features fresh and dry turkey meat as its single source of protein and potato as its easily digestible carbohydrate.

Furthermore, this product is popular among dog owners because it contains nutrients that enrich your dog's overall health.

It contains omega acids (i.e., 3 and 6), antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics, and taurine.

This product is good, especially for diets that require high omega-3 and 6 acids; flaxseed is one of its key ingredients, providing soluble fiber, digestive enzymes, and omega-3 fatty acids, which will help reduce the itch from your dog.

Other ingredients include an inexpensive by-product called tomato pomace, high in fiber, and chicory root extract containing inulin, a starch-like compound with soluble dietary fiber and prebiotics that support healthy digestion.

PROS:

• It's grain-friendly and grain-free dry dog food.
• It's a product rich in soluble fiber and omega fatty acids.
• This product does not contain turkey meals.
• It's suitable for your dog's sensitive skin and supports healthy digestion.

CONS:

• It's only available for older dogs, not puppies.
• It contains controversial ingredients like tomato pomade and canola oil.
• It has a moderate amount of meat compared to other dog food formulas.

Canidae Grain-Free Pure Real Salmon and Sweet Potato

Unlike the Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Potato, Canidae Grain-Free Pure Real Salmon and Sweet Potato use salmon as their main ingredient, containing Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that stimulate your dog's muscle protein synthesis.

This product also boasts eight natural ingredients that help your dog have complete and balanced nutrition, including soluble carbohydrates that can boost your dog's metabolism.

It is also free from food fillers such as soy, wheat, and corn, which may disrupt your dog's sensitive stomach. Neither does it have artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

PROS:

• Its ingredients are simple but wholesome.
• It contains fatty acids, soluble fiber, and carbohydrates, which aid in metabolism and digestion for your dog's sensitive stomach.
• It's free from food fillers and preservatives.

CONS:

• It's only available for older dogs, not puppies.
• It contains a controversial ingredient such as canola oil.
• It contains sun-cured alfalfa, a hay-family ingredient fed to horses.

Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Dog Food

Compared to the other dog brands mentioned above, Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Dog Food contains pasture-raised high-quality Angus beef as their primary ingredient.

Fortified with probiotics, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and DHA, Taste of the Wild Prey also claims that its product contains a quality source of protein and carbohydrates because of its secondary ingredient called lentils.

Aside from these ingredients, this dog food also contains sunflower oil for digestion, dicalcium phosphate for dietary calcium production, and salmon fish oils rich in EPA and DHA.

The product uses pure beef without the meal, which may help them build lean muscles due to its 30% protein content. It is also GMO-free, which makes them completely organic.

However, its only issue is tomato pomace, controversially known as a filler for dog food.

PROS:

• It's grain and GMO-free, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives added.
• Angus beef is a protein-rich ingredient that can build leaner and stronger muscles.
• Its balanced but straightforward ingredients help your dogs manage and promote healthy skin and coats.

CONS:

• It's only available for older dogs, not puppies.
• It contains tomato pomade, a controversial ingredient.
• Compared to the products mentioned above, the Taste of the Wild Prey only includes three dry dog ingredients.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor

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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor is a plant-based hypoallergenic dog food that claims to provide the same nutrients a meat-based product can give to your dogs.

Furthermore, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor doesn't get its protein from turkey, salmon, or beef but from hydrolyzed soy protein isolate.

It also contains corn starch, powdered cellulose, tricalcium phosphate, coconut, and canola oil as its main ingredients.

PROS:

• It's grain-free.
• It contains hydrolyzed protein as its main ingredient, which proves to have effective hypoallergenic properties.
• Medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are a potential treatment for dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders.

CONS:

• This dog food falls under the category of prescription dog foods, and it needs to be veterinary-approved.
• It contains several controversial ingredients, such as corn starch, menadione, corn, and garlic oils.
• It has no probiotic ingredients.

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Rice Dog Food

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe Wet Dog Food is a wet canned dog food product mixture of turkey, rice, and oatmeal.

Like the Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Potato, their recipe derives most of its protein sources from the turkey ingredients, like turkey meat and turkey meals.

Their product is said to be full of essential proteins and nutrients that your pup needs, with zero artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.

PROS:

• It's an excellent alternative to dry kibbles.
• It contains no extended fillers such as pea, potato, corn, or soy.
• Its formula is perfect for dogs with digestion and skin problems.

CONS:

• It contains a slight amount of grain (e.g., brown rice and oatmeal).
• Their minerals don't appear to be chelated.
• Its protein content is lower than its fat content.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP

Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP contains a unique composition of brewer's rice, hydrolyzed soy protein, chicken fat, natural flavors, and dried plain beet pulp as their main ingredients.

In addition to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor, this product also gets protein from hydrolyzed soy protein.

Furthermore, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP contains optimal nutrients such as B vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids, promoting a healthier coat and skin barrier.

PROS:

• It's available for both adult dogs and puppies.
• Its formula helps reduce skin and gastrointestinal reactions that may result from sensitivities to common proteins found in pet foods.
• It contains fiber and prebiotic-filled ingredients.

CONS:

• This dog food falls under the category of prescription dog foods, and it needs to be veterinary-approved.
• It contains three controversial filler ingredients: brewer rice, hydrolyzed soy protein, and dried plain beet pulp.
• You might be critical in regards to what ingredients are on the list, especially those mentioned above.

Earthborn Venture Smoked Turkey and Butternut Squash

Earthborn Venture Smoked Turkey and Butternut Squash is another grain-free dog product that uses dry and fresh turkey as its primary protein source.

Aside from turkey, this product also features butternut squash, tapioca, and pumpkin as their main ingredients.

Furthermore, Earthborn Venture Smoked Turkey and Butternut Squash are full of methionine ingredients that are good not only for the body but also for your dog's heart.

This product is also free of filler ingredients and artificial preservatives that may harm your furry friend's overall health.

PROS:

• It's grain-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
• Its main ingredient, the turkey, comes from trusted family-owned farms.
• Its bags are resealable to maintain the product's freshness.

CONS:

• It's only available for adult dogs, not puppies.
• It's a form of dry food that may not be suitable if your dog has throat problems.
• It has a lower fat content compared to other dog products.

Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Lamb Meal and Egg

Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Lamb Meal and Egg by Brother's Care is a simple dog recipe enriched with essential vitamins and minerals to help your dog's day-to-day activities.

This dog product contains lamb meal, whole dried eggs, turkey meal, cassava root, and peas as its main ingredients.

It also includes dicalcium phosphate, which is necessary used as a dietary calcium supplement.

Every ingredient used to formulate this product is selected according to your dog's needs, promoting a stronger immune system and protecting your dog from specific digestive and skin conditions.

However, yeast, canola oil, and residues from peas and potatoes may be detrimental in choosing this product because of allergen, genetically modified canola, protein, and dried content from peas and potatoes.

PROS:

• It's available for both adult dogs and puppies.
• It contains optimal nutrients that the body cannot produce.
• Naturally preserved for maximum freshness.

CONS:

• It contains alfalfa meal, a hay-family ingredient that is common to horse feeds.
• It has chelated minerals in it.
• Costs 97$ per 25-lb bag.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Formula Dry Dog Food comprises a simple recipe that can cater to every type of dog.

Whether your dog is a lazy doer or an active type, it doesn't matterthis product can conquer them all!

Its main ingredients include salmon, menhaden fish meal, brown rice, brewer rice, and rice bran. This unique formula fuels your pal's energy for their day-to-day activities and exercises.

Aside from these ingredients, it also contains oatmeal, sunflower oil, flaxseed, dried yeast, and green tea extract.

PROS:

• It contains grain ingredients (e.g., brown rice, brewer rice).
• Dogs who are picky eaters will love this.
• Salmon provides your pet with plenty of essential amino acids for leaner muscles.

CONS:

• It's only available for adult dogs, not puppies.
• It contains several controversial ingredients, which are canola oil and brewer's yeast.
• Some pet owners insist that yeast can increase the development of a condition called bloat or Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV).

Zignature Turkey Formula Limited Ingredient Dog Food

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Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is a product that extracts the bulk of its protein from fresh turkey.

Aside from turkey, this brand also thrives on the optimal nutrients from wholesome peas, chickpeas, and carrots.

Due to the combination of these unique ingredients, Zignature Turkey Limited Ingredient Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is a good source of meat protein low in saturated fat and enriched with Selenium, Riboflavin, and Phosphorus.

It's also hypoallergenic and low-glycemic nutrition.

PROS:

• It has a clean recipe with limited ingredients, dog food you can trust with your dog's health.
• Turkey is a prime source of meat protein but low in saturated fat.
• It's free from common canine allergens such as corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and chicken.

CONS:

• It's only available for adult dogs, not puppies.
• It contains sun-cured alfalfa, a hay-family ingredient fed to horses.
• Its fat content is higher than its protein content.

Other Causes of Itchy Skin in Dogs

Food Allergens

The most common causes of skin allergies are food allergens. It's prevalent among dogs, especially breeds that are prone to having skin conditions.

The most common food allergies include beef, dairy, wheat, eggs, chicken, lamb, and soy.

If your allergic dogs are sensitive to the ingredients mentioned above, they may manifest their allergic reactions by diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive scratching.

Environmental Allergens

Aside from food allergens, most dogs are allergic and sensitive to environmental allergens, too.

They are commonly affected by pollen, dust, grasses, weeds, and molds. It also includes home cleaning products, such as pesticides, soap, and essential oils.

Some of these allergies manifest seasonally, but some will not.

Flea or Tick Bites

Parasitic creatures like ticks and fleas can also serve as a nuance to your dogs. Dogs aren't precisely allergic to fleas, but tick and flea bites make their skin itchy and red.

Furthermore, these bites may contain Lyme disease, which will eventually infest the host within 24 hours.

Ticks and fleas are often around the dog's abdomen, near their neck. A tapeworm's presence on your dog's stool indicates an infestation of this parasite.

Bacterial or Fungal Infection

Yeast infection is a bacterial infection that happens when the allergens exposed to the dog develop into molds.

This infection will eventually become itchy and may grow into a fungal infection if not supervised.

It has several causes, which include water, oil, and wax. Most of the time, it occurs inside the dog's ear; thus, the size of your dog's ear may also affect the probability of forming the infection.

Yeast infections also occur in the genitals, but growth in the ears is more common and supervised.

If the infection occurs on your dog's skin, you will quickly notice its flakiness and crustiness. Other signs of skin infections are musty odor, redness, and blemishes.

Stress, Boredom, and Anxiety

Similar to humans, dogs tend to alleviate their boredom or stress with several mannerisms, too.

Some dogs scratch their skin to relieve anxiety. Most of the time, they scrape their ears with their nails.

However, excessive scratching may result in wounds and injuries.

Hormonal Imbalance and Nutrient Deficiencies

Dogs may also experience skin dryness and itchiness due to insufficient nutrients and hormonal imbalance.

If your dog has Hyperthyroidism, symptoms include skin itching and dryness. It may also cause their coat to become brittle, which will eventually result in extreme hair loss.

Conclusion

Your dog's itchy skin condition is a common concern among fur parents.

There are several reasons behind it, and constant biting, scratching, and attempting may make the skin dry and unhealthy.

Understanding what you need to do with your pup's condition must be done through constant observation.

Treatments include home remedies, several products such as shampoos, lotions, wipes, balms, supplements, and others.

However, through continuous care and treatment, your dog's itchy skin will eventually recede over time.

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